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Find out more about SSE

SSE’s purpose is to responsibly provide the energy and related services needed now and in the future. It aims to be a leading provider of energy and related services in a low-carbon world. Its strategy is to create value for shareholders and society from developing, owning and operating energy and related infrastructure and services in a sustainable way. These are the four pillars of the SSE strategy. Delivery of this strategy is dependent on the shared talent, skills and values of people throughout SSE.

At a glance

Creating value for shareholders and society

SSE’s vision is to be a leading energy provider in a low-carbon world. To achieve this we have set four fundamental goals for 2030 which put sustainability at heart of SSE’s business strategy. These goals aren’t just important to SSE, they matter to everyone – that’s why they are directly linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Find out more about how we are building a better world of energy for the future in this section of the website.

At a glance

Investing in Communities

SSE is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work. We understand we must contribute positively to this society by being an active contributor to the communities that we are part of.

This section of our website provides examples and case studies of how we serve the communities we operate in.

At a glance

Our strategy

SSE's strategy is to deliver the efficient operation of, and investment in, a balanced range of economically-regulated and market-based businesses in energy production, storage, transmission, distribution, supply and related services in the energy markets in Great Britain and Ireland.

Marking a decarbonisation milestone

The energy system that drives the UK economy is changing fast. The early steps towards decarbonisation that the energy sector took a decade ago in response the Climate Change Act have become confident strides and real progress can be seen in the recent confirmation that low-carbon generation outstripped all other sources of power for the first time in 2017.

The latest Digest of UK Energy Statistics shows that just over half (50.1%) of Britain's total energy requirements were met last year by low-carbon power sources, up from 45.6% in 2016. Within that statistic is the fact that renewable energy accounted for 29.3% of that low-carbon generation (up from 24.3% in 2016), and the contribution from nuclear sources dipped 2%.

SSE takes those numbers as confirmation that our commitment to embracing the low-carbon agenda through renewable energy is bearing fruit, and it gives us the confidence to build on our success as a major developer, owner and operator of renewables. Onshore and offshore wind generation have pivotal roles to play in meeting long-term energy requirements in the UK and Ireland and SSE has the skills and scale to deliver both, for the benefit of both countries.

A newly-published report, ‘A decade of clean growth: SSE’s contribution to the onshore wind revolution’, details the expansion SSE’s onshore wind portfolio has seen over the past decade and the resulting £3.9bn of value added to the UK and Irish economies. That growth has seen onshore wind capacity triple to over 1,900MW, with committed spend of £6.1bn creating jobs, boosting the British and Irish economies and contributing huge amounts of electricity to meet the needs of customers. Delivering clean growth, doing our bit for the economy and contributing to national industrial strategies is not without its challenges. The onshore wind industry offers one of the lowest-cost sources of energy but to continue creating benefits it needs a supportive regulatory framework.

Offshore wind also has a role to play in delivering the UK and Ireland's – and SSE's – decarbonisation ambitions. SSE has a 40% stake in the Beatrice wind farm project which exported first energy from the Moray Firth earlier this month and has a stake in three other major projects under development in the waters around the UK and Ireland – Seagreen (50%), Dogger Bank (50%) and Arklow Bank. Recent government announcements committing to biennial auctions in this technology are very welcome and SSE is ready to play its part in the doubling of UK offshore capacity over the next decade

In Ireland, a Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS 1) could support over 350MW of onshore wind capacity between now and 2020, and a second scheme, (RESS 2), might create offshore development opportunities. While this represents more of a framework than firm policy for developers like SSE, we nevertheless welcome the emergence of some clarity and will continue to engage with the Irish Government on the details.

The Digest of UK Energy Statistics may sound dull, but the recent numbers represent a milestone on the road to decarbonisation. It is against this backdrop that SSE continues to explore future development options for renewable energy, consistent with our ambition to be a leading energy provider in a low-carbon world.

About the author

Martin Pibworth Wholesale Director

Martin joined SSE in 1998 as an energy trader and undertook a series of commercial roles in the Company, becoming Managing Director, Energy Portfolio Management, and a member of SSE's then Management Board, in 2012. In 2014, he was appointed Managing Director, Wholesale, and a member of SSE's Group Executive Committee, taking on responsibility for SSE's electricity generation portfolio and associated capital investment programme. During this time, Martin has overseen the development of SSE's diverse and flexible generation portfolio including its growing renewable fleet. In 2017, he was appointed to the Board as Wholesale Director, where he also has responsibility for the supply of energy and related services to industrial and commercial customers and SSE's businesses in Ireland. Martin brings significant knowledge of energy markets and experience of commercial, technical and operational matters to the Board, and his innovative approach to strategy, in seeking opportunities to create future value, is also important to his role. Prior to 1998 Martin worked for Eastern Power and Energy Trading, and Total Gas Marketing.